For Misc items below, all obtained from 1 shop, or mix from taobao? 

Dear Kisashi

Why crack your head for something that is suppose to be a fun, wonderful and memorable once in a life time thing to do. I understand that planning a wedding is no easy task. Is even harder or almost impossible if you have a very tight budget.

For your gown part, no doubt buying from taobao will sometimes be cheaper. But there is some horror stories that many wouldn't even want to share or mention about. But if you have the time and know what you are doing, by all means shop for your gown in taobao. But at the end of the day, are you actually saving on your cost? Not to mentioned the time and effort that you put into. And I have noticed that many brides who bought their own gowns, 2 or 3 of them will have a hard time storing them. And that leads to another problem, trying to sell it off. Another time consuming thing if you are working full time. In the end of the day, it really comes to whether is it worth all the effort and risk to save a few hundred bucks.

And if you got to have your pre wedding photo, you can set a side a budget. And choose the bridal house package according to your budget. Most bridal house basic package is slightly below 4k if you don't fall for the adding more photos, adding this and that syndrome. And that package will usually have most of what you need for your wedding. Gowns (during shooting and actual day), make up (during pre wedding photo shoot), accessories, man's attire, car flower decor, corsage, flower bouquet and others. Some even throw in a complimentary family portrait if you ask for it. But bare in mind that you will not be able to find a bridal house that is perfect. The key is to not put your expectation too high. And at the same time not to get cheated as well. Make sure that they gave you what is agreed upon during signing up. Is even better if you can get black and whites of the package. Something like an email conversation is even better. And try not to do those signing up today and shoot next year type of thing. The best is to sign up today and shoot ASAP while all the words and promises is still clear in yours and also the sales persons mind. In the end of the day, you just want to have your pre wedding photo shooting done in a budget. Is just like going to a restaurant just to fill up your stomach. We always notice that, the "happy ones are the ones who doesn't have high expectations".

(* Please note that this is not applicable for those who can afford for a lavish and grand gring grong pre wedding photo shooting)

Just my half cents worth...... 

hello....

just curious, when talking about weddings, which is more important in terms of budget, is it the wedding day budget itself, or the honeymoon?? which one??

oh, and princessgalaria, for your honeymoon, did you enjoy it with hubby just right after the day of your wedding, or waited for a few months after wedding day, then only honeymoon??

thx

That's totally depending on both of you. Every one have different preferences. I would split both equally due to commitments that I will have to do the wedding ceremony rather than just going for a holiday. Of course we both definitely want a honeymoon as well.

I've not completed my wedding yet. We didn't plan to go right after because there are still petty things that we might need to settle after the wedding. And after taking a few days leave off work, can't go off for that long due to work commitments. Only will go for honeymoon like 1-2 months after settling everything. Don't wanna just go off and then leave things unsettled and still receive like tons of phone calls.

waahh, your hubby should be proud to have such a responsible wife like you

oh, so you're in engagement phase isit??  okay alright...

thanks for your info, and i hope you and your hubby both the best in your endeavours

congratulations once again

Thanks for sharing TS! Truly insightful, planning to get most stuff from Taobao as well but with the current exchange rate, not sure if getting locally will be cheaper.. Anyway, I have a question, is it more advisable to book restaurant banquet during wedding fair, ie cheaper than normal or actually just marketing?

Thanks for sharing TS! Truly insightful, planning to get most stuff from Taobao as well but with the current exchange rate, not sure if getting locally will be cheaper.. Anyway, I have a question, is it more advisable to book restaurant banquet during wedding fair, ie cheaper than normal or actually just marketing?

Not just wedding banquet. How about other things offered during wedding fair as well? Is it really cheaper?

For me, not really. Wedding fairs make you fall for some impulsive decision especially those pre wedding packages, they will keep selling you that promo only valid for today and then at the end you bought and realise have to top up for a bit which is the same. If you really hv the time, I suggest you really sit back and consider and compare first.

This is very true, same goes for those travel fair if you're planning for honeymoon. I went to Matta Fair to check out ticket price, and ask around, quite panic because flight tickets to where we plan to go are selling out fast, but decided not to buy at Matta fair. Ended up checking online, managed to get even cheaper flight, plus its direct flight. 

My honeymoon tickets to Australia from AA only costed RM800 for two way two person excluding insurance and luggage. Itinerary self plan one hahaha.. save money.

This is very true, same goes for those travel fair if you're planning for honeymoon. I went to Matta Fair to check out ticket price, and ask around, quite panic because flight tickets to where we plan to go are selling out fast, but decided not to buy at Matta fair. Ended up checking online, managed to get even cheaper flight, plus its direct flight. 

My honeymoon tickets to Australia from AA only costed RM800 for two way two person excluding insurance and luggage. Itinerary self plan one hahaha.. save money.

Nice!

Yeah itinerary for honeymoon better plan own self coz honeymoon is meant to be relaxing and casual, spending quality time with each other.

eerrmm, just asking here;

for honeymoon, usually where you guys pick, Asian countries (Japan, Korea), or European countries (France, Spain) or Western (US,Canada)???

and most importantly, what's the duration, minimum 7 days is it??

thx for your answer

Honeymoon's destination is definitely a very... subjective question. Subject to you and your partner, what you guys like to do?
And yes I am going off for 7 days. Since we have dated, we hv not gone anywhere for more than 3 nights due to some prior commitment here. So this is like a once and for all we gotta do it for ourselves.

I hv friend who went to Vietnam cos they like the cultural side, I hv friends that went to Bali due to budget issue and I hv friends that will be going to Europe for 3 weeks.. different for each and every couple. Myself and my partner love scenery and beach over cities, and somewhere that we could take road trips and enjoy the company together. That's the reason that we picked Perth amongst everything. Also, I'm familiar with that place and I would really love to go back to an island called Rottnest. In all, we prefer a slow and chilling trip and not those like theme park, city shopping etc. So the answer is really up to both of you.

eerrmm, just asking here;

for honeymoon, usually where you guys pick, Asian countries (Japan, Korea), or European countries (France, Spain) or Western (US,Canada)???

and most importantly, what's the duration, minimum 7 days is it??

thx for your answer

For me, we picked a rather expensive destination (London/Iceland), because its one of our bucket list, and what better way to tick it off with a honeymoon. Oh we are going for 2 weeks, and as mentioned, we managed to get rather good flight pricing for direct to London.

But the exchange rate is really killing us...

Honeymoon destination is really subjective, as said, its really somewhere both of you want to go together. And its not a must, but its a good way to kickstart the marriage, getting to know each other much more intimately in a relaxing and casual environment, without anyone else you know around you.